Solar power is still more expensive than coal in India, but the recent trend is downwards, where the latest data suggest that solar could catch up with coal by around 2020.

Regarding coal, one source for projected cost of new coal-fired power generation comes from the International Energy Agency.

In its latest World Energy Outlook (WEO), the IEA estimated a cost range for coal-fired power of $0.05-0.06/ kWh, in 2020, reflecting a price range for imported coal of $60-85 per tonne (see the chart below from the IEA’s WEO 2015).

As you can see below, the IEA sees LNG gas-fired power generation ranging from $0.06 t0 $0.1 per kWh, in 2020.

Regarding solar PV, bid prices have been falling quite sharply, in recent reverse auctions run by India’s state-owned utility, NTPC, for attractive, low-risk, plug and play solar parks, where land and transmission facilities are provided.